Introductory E & M Lab Manual for Virtual Teaching

TL;DR

This paper presents a virtual physics lab manual for electricity and magnetism, utilizing simulations and open educational resources to replicate in-person experiments, with proven effectiveness comparable to physical labs.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive virtual lab manual with simulation-based experiments and emphasizes computational data analysis, enhancing remote physics education.

Findings

Virtual labs achieved comparable learning outcomes to physical labs.

Students effectively used Excel for data analysis in virtual experiments.

Both synchronous and asynchronous virtual delivery methods were successful.

Abstract

Introductory electricity and magnetism lab manual was designed to use with virtual Physics II class. The lab manual consists of experiments on electrostatics, electric potential and energy, current and resistance, DC circuits, electromagnetism, and AC circuits. Virtual experiments were based on simulations. Open educational resources (OER) were used for all experiments. Virtual experiments were designed to simulate in-person physical lab experiments. Special emphasis was given to computational data analysis with excel. Formatted excel sheets per each lab were given to students and step by step calculation in excel were explained during the synchronous class. Learning management system (LMS) was used to fully web enhance the lab class. Virtual labs were delivered by using live video conference technology and recorded lab sessions were added to LMS. Lab class were tested with both virtual delivery methods (synchronous and asynchronous). Student learning outcomes (understand, apply, analyze and evaluate) were studied with detailed lab reports and end of the semester lab-based written exam which confirmed the virtual lab class was as effective as the in-person physical lab class.